Interlocking building blocks for forming movable closures



J y 1965 s. J. CZECHOLINSKI 3,196,496

INTERLOCKING- BUILDING BLOCKS FOR FORMING MOVABLE CLOSURES OriginalFiled July 15, 1955 III/I [III] A INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,196,496 INTERLOCKING BUILDING BLOCKS FUR FORM-lNG MOVABLE QL'OSURES Stephen J. Czecholinski, 3019 S. 7th St.,Milwaukee 15, Wis.

Original application July 15, 1955, Ser. No. 522,248, new Patent No.3,076,286, dated Feb. 5, 1963. Divided and this application Dec. 13,1962, Ser. No. 244,411

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-16) This invention relates generally to buildingblocks, and more particularly to an improved system of interlockingbuilding blocks especially adapted to assemble movable building closuressuch a hinged doors and windows in full size of model buildingconstruction.

The present application constitutes a division of my copending patentapplication, Serial No. 522,248, filed July 15, 1955, for BuildingBlocks which has matured into US. Patent 3,076,286.

A variety of interlocking building blocks are presently available forfull size as well as toy or model building construction but aredeficient in that they are interlocked in one direction only. That is,the interlocking structure serves to prevent the displacement of theblocks relative to each other in either the horizontal direction or thevertical direction but not in both directions. Usually such blocks areinterlocked to prevent their horizontal displacement only, and the rowsof blocks are balanced upon each other. With this arrangement, theslightest disturbance will destroy the balance to cause completedismantlement of the assembled structure.

Obviously, a model building constructed of these blocks cannot be liftedbodily and moved from one place to another unless it is built on a flatboard or the like and carefully lifted by means of the board.Furthermore, such blocks are limited to the construction of verticalwalls, it being necessary to resort to sheet material for the Windowsand doors, thereby limiting the versatility of the blocks and detractingfrom the appearance of the building.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide animproved system of interlocking building blocks for constructing theclosures of full size as well as model buildings.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide buildingblocks that are interlocked in both directions and are especiallyadapted to form the movable closures, such as the doors and windows of abuilding.

Another object is to provide interlocking building blocks for formingthe doors and windows of a building with the blocks being adapted tomount the doors for pivotal movement onto the interlocking blocks thatare utilized for forming the stationary building structures.

Another object is to provide interlocking building blocks for formingthe movable closures of a building that improve the appearance of theentire structure.

A further object is to provide an improved system of interlockingbuilding blocks especially adapted to form the movable closures of abuilding with the closures being of rigid and sturdy construction whichmay be conveniently assembled and disassembled.

According to this invention the improved building blocks are especiallyadapted to be assembled to form the closures, such as the doors andwindows of a building. The blocks are provided with a unique system oftenon and mortise joints especially adapted to prevent the displacementof the blocks relative to each other when assembled in both the verticaland horizontal directions to form a rigid unitary structure. The blocksfor forming the building closures are particularly well adapted tocooperate with similarly arranged interlocking building blocks that formthe stationary walls of the building. They include special blocksassembled into the wall and closure for pivotally mounting the closureto the wall so that it can be swung to either an open or closedposition. Casing blocks are also provided to be secured about theperiphery of the opening in the wall for a neat appearance which closelyresembles conventional building construction.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, which will becomeapparent from the following detailed description setting forth anillustrative embodiment may be achieved by the particular apparatusdepicted in and described in connection with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing a typical doorinstallation in the wall of a building constructed with the buildingblocks of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken along theplane represented by the line 77 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the planerepresented by the line 88 in FIGURE 1.

Reference is now made more specifically to the drawings and particularlyto FIG. 1 thereof which illustrates a typical door constructionincorporating the features of the present invention. The blocks of thepresent invention are especially well adapted to form the movableclosures, such as doors and windows, of buildings which are assembled ofinterlocking building blocks described in my previously mentioned US.Patent 3,076,286. Such building blocks form the exterior walls of thebuilding and outline the door or window opening.

Thus, in FIG. 1 the illustrated door opening is outlined by the wallblocks described in the above mentioned patent and these wall blocksoutlining the opening present a dovetail mortise 27 along their exposedends which establish the sides of the opening. With the blocks thusarranged they cooperate to form a continuous dovetail mortise at theedge of the wall about the sides of the opening and through the entireheight of the opening. Similarly, the Wall blocks outling the top of thedoor opening all present a longitudinal dovetail mortise 28 along theirbottom surfaces to form a continuous dovetail mortise at the edge of theWall outlining the top of the opening. In like manner, the blocksforming the edge of the bottom of the opening present a dovetail mortise28 along their top surface to form a continuous dovetail mortise at theedge of the wall outling the bottom of the opening. It is obvioustherefore, that the blocks of the wall outlining the opening in the wallpresent a continuous dovetail mortise about the entire periphery of theopening.

The mortise about the periphery of the open-ing is provided for thepurpose of securing casing blocks in position to form a door casingabout the opening. The sides of the casing are formed by side casingblocks 58) set one upon the other along both sides of the openings. Asillustrated in FIGURE 2, the side casing blocks 50 are formed of a bodyportion 51 with two overlapping portions 52 extending laterallytherefrom to overlap the sides of the wall. A dovetail tenon 53 isformed along the interior edge of the body portion 51 centrally disposedbetween the two overlapping portions 52 for the purpose of engaging thedovetail mort-ises in the edgeof the wall along both sides of theopening as previously described. In this manner the several blocks 50are secured along both sides of the opening to form the sides of thecasing.

In the same manner the top and bottom of the casing is formed by easingblocks 59 and corner casing blocks 60, As depicted in FIGURE 3 thecasing blocks'59 are. formed in'the same manner as are the side casingblocks 50-except of different proportions, having a body portion 61 andtwo overlapping portions 62 extending laterally therefrom. for thepurpose of overlapping the wall at the top and bottom of the dooropening. A longitudinal dovetail tenon 63 is provided'along the interioredge of the body portion 61 centrally disposed between the twooverlapping portions 62 to engage the dovetail mortises f 28 presentedalong. theedge of the wall at both the top and bottom of the dooropening. Y

The corner casing blocks '60 are similar to the casing blocks 59 exceptthat the body portion 61 is shorter so. 7

The door itself has its top and bottom edges formed by corner blocks 68and 69fespecially adapted to formjthe cornersor' the doors. The blocks68 are provided with a dovetail mortise 70 along one edge andano-therdovetail mortise 71 extending partiallyjalong one'side of the block.

Thus, in the top row of blocks forming the door shown in adjacentdovetailmortises 84and 91 for receiving the double dovetail inserts'29to prevent their vertical displacement.

Thecentr-al por-tionof the door 'is formed of panel blocks 93 andconnector members 94 and 95, the connect-or members 94 and 95 being ofthe same construction but ofditierent lengths. The panel blocks 93 havedovetail tenons 96 formed on all'four sides, while the connector members94 and 95"have longitudinal dovetail mortises 97'formed along twoopposite sidesf y it will be recalled that the side door blocks 90 wereassembled to present av d-ovetailtenon 92 along their in terior sides.Each of these tenons 92'is placed into engagement with one of thedOVGtEll'mOIfiSGS 97 of the connector members 95- and the other mortise97 of the same connector members 95 are engaged by the dovetail tenons96 of the panel blocks 93. The dovetail tenons 96 on the opposite sideof the panel blocks 93 are similarly engaged by connector members 95 sothat the two vertical rows of. panel blocks 93 illustrated in FIGURE 1are connected toeach other andto the two outsider-owe of side blocks 90by connector members 95 which are all disposed in a vertical-position.The panel blocks 93 are connected FIGURE 1, the corner block 68 has itsdovetail mortise v 70 at its bottom edge and its mortise 71 along itsright side. In similar fashion the corner block 68 at the bottom of thedoor has .its dovetail mortise 70 at its top edge and V the mortise 71along its right side.

In the door illustrated in FIGURE 1, two door blocks -75 are assembledbetween the two corner blocks 68 and 69 although any number of blocks 75can be utilized in accordance with the desired dimensionof the door. Theblocks 75 are provided with a dovetail mortise76 extends ing along oneside through a portion of its length, and a dovetail tenon.77ontheopposite side extending along the same portion of its length'so thatthe dovetailtenon 77 is of the same length as the dovetail mortise 76.Another dovetail tenon 78 is formed along the entire width of one toeachjother in the opposite direction and to the door blocks 75 by thehorizontally disposed connector members 94.with the top and bottomtenons 96 of the panel blocks 93 being in engagement with the respectiveconnector members 94. V

It will be recalled that the two top blocks75 present a dovetail tenon78 along their bottom ends and the bottom blocks 75 present a dovetailtenon 78 along their top ends. These tenons are similarly engaged by oneof the dovetail mortises 97 of the top and bottom connector members94're spectively, with the other dovetail mortises 97 of these topand-bottom connectormembers 94 being engaged by the top and bottomdovetail tenons 96 of the top and bottom panel blocks-93 respectively.It is therefore apparent that the several blocksforming thedoor aresecurely attached to each other by the tenon and mortise V .to eachotherin both end of the block 75. The corner block 69 includes 'a Idovetail tenon 83 extending partially along one side of the, 1

block and a dovetail mortise 84 extending along the full width of oneend of the block.

Thus, the top row of blocks of the d-oor illustrated in FIGURE 1 isformed by two corner blocks 68 and 69 f and two blocks. 75 disposedbetween the corner block's. These four blocks are connected to eachother by their tenon and mortise joints with the mortise 71 of the blocku the right, and the latter block has its mortise 76 engaged by thetenon '83 of the corner block 69. These joints In like manner, the firstblock joints which serve to prevent their displacement relativethehorizontal and vertical directions. 7 Y a j v a The door assemblyis'hingedly connected to the casing to render it pivotable with respectto the buildingin accordance with the usual door construction. To thisend two of the side casing blocks 50 are provided with three cars 102 tocooperatewith similar ears 103 to form a hinge. An earv 103 is mounted'on each of the corner blocks 68 and another ear 103 is attached to eachof the side .door blocks 90 adjacent to the corner blocks-6S. The ear103 on one'of' the corner blocks 68, and the ear 103 on its adjacentside door block "90 form a part of one hinge, being'dispose'd in'thespaces between the ears 102. The ears 102and103 have verticalaperturesformed in them which are placed in alignment to receive a pm 104 V whichpivotably supports the door to the casing or wall preventhorizontaldisplacement of the several blocks and their vertical displacement isprevented in a similar manner as will be presently described. The bottomrow of blocks of the door illustrated in FIGURE 1 is assembled in theidentical manner as described above for the top row of blocks.

The vertical sides of the door betweenthe two corner 7 blocks 68 and thetwo corner blocks 69are formed of side door blocks 90, each of whichpresent a dovetail mortise.

betweenthem present adjacent dovetail mortises and 91 of the building. 7I

From the foregoing detailed description-of the'structure and operationof the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, it will beapparent that a new and improved system of building blocks'has beenprovided which is especially adapted to form the movable buildingclosures such as the doors and windows of the building.

The system of building blocksiincludes an interlocking arrangement whichprevents inadvertent displacement of the individual blocksinboth ahorizontal and vertical 7 building wall.

into which the double dovetail inserts 29 of suitable length i areinserted, to prevent the vertical displacement of the blocks. In likemanner, the corner blocks 69 and theside door blocks 90 on theoppositeside of the door present the purpose of making a full disclosureof a practical operative arrangement by means of which the invention maybe practiced, it is to be understood that the Various novel features ofthe invention may be incorporated in other arrangements withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in thesubjoined claims.

The principles of the invention having now been fully explained inconnection with the foregoing description of embodying structure, Ihereby claim as my invention:

1. In a closure assembly for selectively closing the door and windowopenings in a wall of a building; a plurality of edge blocks definingthe perimeter of the closure, said edge blocks presenting mortises alongtheir edges; double dovetail inserts disposed in adjacent mortises ofsaid edge blocks for securing the latter together in the desiredconfiguration; a plurality of panel blocks assembled in the openingformed by said assembled edge blocks to complete the closure; aplurality of tenons extending from each of said panel blocks, and aplurality of connectors between said p-anel blocks presentinglongitudinal mortises along two opposite sides, the mortises beingengaged by said tenons for connecting said panel blocks to each other ina panel assembly; and means connecting said panel assembly to said edgeblocks for completing the closure.

2. In a building construction having mortises formed in the buildingwall about an opening for a door or 3 window member; casing blocksformed to overlap the wall of the building about the entire edgedefining the door or window opening to form a casing about the opening;tenons extending from said casing blocks and in engagement with themortises in the building wall to secure the casing blocks to the wallabout the opening; a

plurality of edge blocks about the perimeter of the door or windowmember to establish its outer dimensions; a plurality of tongue andsocket joints engaged to connect said edge blocks to each other; aninterior tenon extending inwardly from the interior edge of each of saidedge blocks; a plurality of panel blocks disposed between said edgeblocks to form the central portion of the member; a tenon formed alongeach side of each of said panel blocks; connector members having alongitudinal mortise along each of two opposite longitudinal surfaces,said mortises being engaged by said interior tenons of said edge blocksand said tenons of said panel blocks to connect said panel blocks to theedge blocks and to each other to form a unitary structure; and aplurality of hinges mounted to pivotably connect the unitary structureforming the door or window member to the building wall in the openingdefined by said casing blocks.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,162,409 11/15Shimer 453 1,825,878 10/31 Loetscher 20-35 2,102,443 12/ 37 Thorn 50-4522,392,551 1/46 Roe 50-453 X 2,396,295 3/46 Spraragen.

2,884,780 5/54 Ramirez 50-l18 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,097,701 2/55 France.

595,505 12/47 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES E. OCONNNELL, Examiner.

1. IN A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR SELECTIVELY CLOSING THE DOOR AND WINDOWOPENINGS IN A WALL OF A BUILDING; A PLURALITY OF EDGE BLOCKS DEFININGTHE PERIMETER OF THE CLOSURE, SAID EDGE BLOCKS PRESENTING MORTISES ALONGTHEIR EDGES; DOUBLE DOVETAIL INSERTS DISPOSED IN ADJACENT MORTISED OFSAID EDGE BLOCKS FOR SECURING THE LATTER TOGETHER IN THE DESIREDCONFIGURATION; A PLURALITY OF PANEL BLOCKS ASSEMBLED IN THE OPENINGFORMED BY SAID ASSEMBLED EDGE BLOCKS TO COMPLETE THE CLOSURE; APLURALITY OF TENONS EXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAID PANEL BLOCKS, AND APLURALITY OF CONNECTORS BETWEEN SAID PANEL BLOCKS PRESENTINGLONGITUDINAL MORTISES ALONG TWO OPPOSITE SIDES, THE MORTISES BEINGENGAGED BY SAID TENONS FOR CONNECTING SAID PANEL BLOCKS TO EACH OTHER INA PANEL ASSEMBLY; AND MEANS CONNECTING SAID PANEL ASSEMBLY TO SAID EDGEBLOCKS FOR COMPLETING THE CLOSURE.